Material feeding system

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for feeding textile roving strands and the like through one or more feeding tubes by means of an air vehicle. The textile strands are introduced into filament guides and pulled through the filament guides by means of air under pressure. A discharge aperture on each of the filament guides is located in a venturi throat where air picks up the filament strands and carries them into delivery tubes. This same educted air from the venturi throat is used to transport the strands over considerable distance in such delivery tubes. A pair of metering rollers controls the rate of strand delivery to the filament guides. Inasmuch as there is an air boundary layer existing between the interior wall of the tube and the exterior wall of the glass, the abrading effect is very substantially reduced. A control mechanism regulates the operation of the metering rollers, and hence the feeding of the strands with respect to a demand on the strand. In addition, a second embodiment of the invention discloses a reciprocation of the feeding mechanism in timed relation to the metering of the strands through the feeding mechanism and in timed relation to the demand for the strands.

iJnited States Patent 1 Goldsworthy et al.

[ 1 Jan. 30, 1973 [54] MATERIAL FEEDING SYSTEM [75] lnventors: WilliamB. Goldsworthy, Palos Verdes Estates; Ethridge E. Hardesty, Pine Valley,both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Goldsworthy Engineering, Inc., Torrance, Calif.

[22] Filed: Feb. 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 112,162

[52] U.S. Cl ..226/7, 226/97 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 25/06 [58] Field ofSearch....226/97, 7; 242/47; 139/1, 127

Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-Gene A. ChurchAtt0rneyRobert J. Schaap, Neal E. Willis and John D. Upham [57] ABSTRACTA method and apparatus for feeding textile roving strands and the likethrough one or more feeding tubes by means of an air vehicle. Thetextile strands are introduced into filament guides and pulled throughthe filament guides by means of air under pressure. A discharge apertureon each of the filament guides is located in a venturi throat where airpicks up the filament strands and carries them into delivery tubes. Thissame educted air from the venturi throat is used to transport thestrands over considerable distance in such delivery tubes. A pair ofmetering rollers controls the rate of strand delivery to the filamentguides. lnasmuch as there is an air boundary layer existing between theinterior wall of the tube and the exterior wall of the glass, theabrading effect is very substan tially reduced. A control mechanismregulates the operation of the metering rollers, and hence the feed ingof the strands with respect to a demand on the strand. in addition, asecond embodiment of the invention discloses a reciprocation of thefeeding mechanism in timed-relation to the metering of the strandsthrough the feeding mechanism and in timed relation to the demand forthe strands.

18 Claims. 5 Drawing Figures FEEDBACK CONTROLLER PATENTED JAN 30 I975SHEET 1 0F 5 KMJJONFZOU INVENTORS WILLIAM B. GOLDSWORTHY ETHRIDGE E.HARDESTY ATTORNEY PATENTEDJANSO i973 3. 7 l 3. 572

sum 2 OF 5 g WILLIAM B. GOLDSWORTHY ETHRIDGE E. HARDESTY aw; A

ATTORNEY 'PATENTEDJM 30 I973 SHEET 3 UP 5 INVENTORS WILLIAM B.GOLDSWORTHY ETHRIDGE E. HARDESTYE' ATTORNEY PATENTEB m 30 Ian SHEET '4BF 5 I. am

INVENTORS WILLIAM B. GOLDSWORTHY ETHRIDGE E. HARDEQSIY xmOEwz ATTORNEYPATENIEDmso I975 3.713.572

SHEET 5 [1F 5 INVENTORS WILLIAM B. GOLDSWORTHY ETHRIDGE E. HARDESTYATTORNEY MATERIAL FEEDING SYSTEM This invention relates in general tocertain new and useful improvements in filament feeding system, and moreparticularly to filament feeding systems which employ an air vehicle asthe moving medium.

In recent years reinforced plastics have achieved increasing prominenceand have found applications in many areas which were previouslysatisfied by products fabricated from the heavy metals. For example,many users of storage tanks and the like have begun to resort toemployment of reinforced plastic tanks as opposed to metal tanks sincethe former are less costly in many cases and are able to withstandabrasion and corrosion effects materially greater than metal tanks.

Many of the reinforced plastic products are formed by filament windingtechniques which call for large demands of the reinforced filamentmaterial. Fiberglass filament strands are one of the pronouncedreinforcing materials used in the preparation of tanks and the like.However, delivery of fiberglass to feeding heads or glass applicatorsrequires careful handling and specialized equipment. The glass must becapable of being applied to a mandrel, die or the like, without beingmarred or abraded by a delivery mechanism. Typically, fiberglass strandsare very easily abraded when in contact with any hard surface. When thefiberglass becomes abraded, the resultant product which employs theglass will have unsightly scars. These scars are not only aestheticallyundesirable, but also produce structurally inferior areas in theproduct.

The present invention resides in a discovery that it is possible totransport abrasion-sensitive filaments for substantially long distancesin an air vehicle at a rate consistent with the demand of suchfilaments. The prior art teaches of venturi type devices (employingeither an eductor or aspirator) for purposes of pulling strands offibrous materials. For example, US. Pat. Nos. 2,859,506, 2,852,906, and2,693,844 all teach of air feeding systems which are designed to pullfilamentary materials such as fiberglass. However, the devices of eachof these patents operate on the basis of a venturiactuated aspirator.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to providea filament feeding system which is capable of carrying fiberglassstrands in a stream of air.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a filamentfeeding system of the type stated which is capable of carryingfilamentary strands in an air vehicle and preventing contact of thestrand with a delivery tube by means of an air boundary interfaceexisting between the delivery tube and the strand.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a filamentfeeding system of the type stated in which the rate of strand deliveryis programmed with respect to a device calling for a supply of thefilamentary strands and which is also programmed to compensate forchanges in the effective rate of strand delivery resulting from previousdeposition of the strands.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a systemof the type stated which can be manufactured on a low unit cost basisand which is highly efficient in its operation.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, arrangement and combination ofparts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings sheets): FIG. 1 is a schematic verticalsectional view illustrating a filament delivery system constructed inaccordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the electrical circuitry forming part ofthe feedback controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a modified form offilament delivery system constructed in accordance with and embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the electrical circuitry which forms thecontrol mechanism for the filament delivery mechanism of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a modified form of filament deliverysystem constructed in accordance with and embodying the presentinvention.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawingswhich illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Adesignates a filament feeding system comprising a manifold 1 which isinternally drilled to form three horizontally extending verticallyaligned fluid ducts 2. Each of the fluid ducts 2 is diametrally enlargedat its right hand end in the form of an air chamber 3. A back plate 4 issecured to the manifold 1 by means of any suitable fasteners (now shown)in order to enclose each of the air chambers 3.

The back plate 4 is apertured in the area of each of v the air chambers3 to accommodate a filament guide 5 which extends into the air chamber3. Each filament guide 5 terminates at its left hand end in theprovision of a discharge aperture 6 through which filamentary materialsmay pass. It should be observed that the discharge aperture 6 is locatedin a venturi throat 7; that is in an area where the air chamber 3integrally merges into the diametrally reduced duct 2. By reference toFIG. 1, it can be seen that filament strands S are introduced into eachof the filament guides 5 and carried through the discharge aperture 6into the ducts 2.

As indicated previously, the various prior art devices employ some formof venturi-actuated aspirator. The present invention also continues toemploy the educted air from the aspirator for transporting the filamentstrands S for substantially long distances inside of tubing. Inaddition, the present invention provides a mechanism of metering thefilament strands in such fashion that the supply of the strands ispredictable and controllable.

Connected to each of the ducts 2 are filament delivery tubes 8 whichcarry the glass strands from the filament guides 5 to the area of demand(hereinafter described). An air inlet aperture 9 connects with each ofthe chambers 3 and the chambers 3 receive air under pressure through anair supply tube 10 connected to each of the inlet apertures 9. The airsupply tube 10 is connected to any suitable source of air under pressure(now shown) through a conventional regulator valve 1 l.

The devices of the prior art operate on the so-called short-jet"principle in that these devices employ a venturi-aspirator to pullstrands for relatively short distances. The present invention differsconsiderably in that the invention provides a mechanism for transportingthese filaments to a delivery tube 8 for substantially long distances.For example, it has been found possible to transport fiberglass strandsthrough delivery tubes 8 for distances of 25 feet and greater.Furthermore, inasmuch as the fiberglass is carried in an air stream, themoving air serves as a dynamic boundary layer which acts as a protectivesheath around the strands to prevent damage to the abrasive-sensitivefilaments.

A pair of metering rollers 12,13 are located at the entrance of each ofthe filament guides 5 for metering the glass strands S to each of theguides 5. The metering rollers 12,13 receive the glass strands from acreel supporting platform or other supply source (not shown) and feedthe glass to the guides 5 in timed relationship to the demand for theglass strands S. The metering rollers 12,13 are programmed to operate ata speed proportional to the demand of the strands S in a manner to behereinafter described in more detail.

In many cases, it is oftentimes desirable to add a particulate mattersuch as sand or the like to the strand material. The present inventionreadily lends itself to a convenient mixing of the sand with thefilamentary strands and delivery of the particulate matter along withthe roving strand in the air stream. It has been found that delivery ofthe particulate matter along with the strand material, and directapplication simultaneously of the strand and particulate matter has beenhighly effective in the fabrication of many reinforced plastic compositestructures. For this purpose, a discharge tank 14 is connected to themanifold l and communicates with each of the air chambers 3 throughducts 15 which terminate in inlet apertures in the respective chambers3. The particulate matter is then metered into the chambers 3 throughthe ducts 15. Preferably, the discharge tank 14 is provided withmetering rollers, agitators, or other mechanism which will provide forthe delivery of a proper amount of the particulate matter to the airchambers 3.

There are a number of particulate materials which can be employed in thefeeding system of the present invention in addition to sand. Many of theother materials which may be used are particulate silica, small hollowspheres of various materials and carbon and graphite. The presentinvention is adapted to handle a wide variety of particle sizes of theparticulate matter and can handle large particles in the range of 8 to64 mesh and small particles in the range of 100 mesh to 5 microns.Furthermore, the amount of particulate matter can be programmed to theamount of strand delivery.

For the purpose of describing the controlled feed of the strands S, acylindrical mold M has been shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. The moldessentially consists of an open ended shell having an annular wall withan interior strand-receiving .surface 21. The mold is rotated about itscentral longitudinal axis by means of a conventional electric motor 22and conventional drive mechanism 23. When the motor 22 is energized, thedrive mechanism 23 will rotate the mold M about its central longitudinalaxis at the desired speed of rota tion. The various filament deliverytubes would be provided with feeding heads (not shown) to extend throughthe open transverse end of the shell wall 20' and into the interior ofthe mold. As the mold is rotated, filament strands S will be applied tothe interior surface 21.

In the fabrication of tubular structures, for example, it is important,and in many cases even critical, to

deliver the strands at a feed-in rate which must be matched exactly tothe peripheral speed of the mold. In other words, the line rate in feetper minute must be exactly equal to the mold surface rotational speed interms of feet per minute. Typically, in the fabricating of such tubularstructures, the strands must be laid in a truly contiguous pattern sothat a series of side-by-side circumferential strands abut each other toform a relatively smooth annular fiberglass structure. Quite obviously,a slight variance in the feed-in rate with respect to the peripheralspeed in the mold would break the continuity of the strand applicationto the interior surface of the mold.

In addition to the proper programming of the feeding rate of the strandwith respect to mold rotation, it is quite important to compensate forthe effective change in diameter of the mold with regard to the feed-inrate of the strand material. After a sufficient number of strands weredeposited on the interior surface of the mold, the effective diameter ofthe mold surface receiving the strands is reduced. Accordingly, thefeed-in rate of the strand would have to be reduced or the surface speedof the mold itself would have to be increased. Again, it can be observedthat if this compensation were not included, and if the feed-in rate ofthe strand was not compensated for the change in effective diameter, atruly contiguous pattern of strands could not be obtained.

Accordingly, the metering rollers 12,13 for each of the filament guides5 are all connected to a suitable electric motor 16 which is operated bya servo feedback controller 17, the latter being connected to the motor16 and the drive motor 22. This type of structure will enable rotationof the metering rollers 12,13 in proportion to strand demand at the moldM. In essence, the metering rollers 12,13 provide the mechanism formoving the strands S at the controlled rate and the air introducedthrough the venturi throats 7 provide a vehicle for carrying the strandsS which are metered through the rollers 12,13.

It can be seen that when air is introduced under pres sure into thevarious chambers 3, the air flow rate will increase at the venturithroat 7 by virtue of the reduced diameter. As the strands S areadmitted from the discharge aperture 6 into the venturi throat 7, theywill be immediately picked up and conveyed by the moving air stream. Inaddition the particulate matter will also be picked up and conveyed bythe moving air stream. The strands will never be moved at a rateinconsistent with the demand for the strands in the air stream, inasmuchas the strand rate is controlled by the metering rollers 12,13. Asindicated previously, the air will form a boundary layer between theglass strands in the interior walls of the ducts 2 and the deliverytubes 8. The principle behind the operation of the air boundary layer iswell explained in the art regarding plug flow of solids. It is wellknown, particularly in mining industries, where slurries are transferredthrough pipes, that the slurry rarely ever contacts the interior wall ofthe pipe due to the existence of the fluid boundary layer. The sameholds true in the transporting of the fibrous strand materials as wellas the particulate matter in accordance with the present invention.

A conventional guillotine type cutter 18 is also provided for severingthe strands in the ducts 2 at selected time intervals. Thus when onewinding operation is completed, the metering rollers 12, 13 arede-energized, the strands are severed and a new winding operation couldbe commended by merely initiating the air stream to start the supply ofstrands. While the mechanism of the present invention has beenillustrated with three delivery tubes, it should be recognized that anynumber of delivery tubes could be employed. Furthermore, the inventionis operable with a number of well known filamentary materials normallyused in the field of reinforced plastics.

The feedback controller 17 is more fully illustrated in FIG. 2 and showsthe components which are employed to program the feed-in rate of thestrand S to the mold M. As indicated previously, the mold M is rotatedat a desired speed through the action of the motor 22. The mold may bepreferably provided with a series of digital markings on the annularsurface thereof and which markings are sensed by a photodiode or similarphototransducer 30 for detecting the rate of speed of mold M. It shouldbe observed that other types of speed detection devices such astachometers and the like could be employed. However, a photoelectricsensing mechanism has been found to be quite effective in that itreadily lends itself to the employment of a digital type circuit whereastachometers and other types of similar speed sensing mechanismsgenerally require analogue type circuits. Furthermore, it should beobserved that the motor 22 itself could be directly connected to thefeedback controller 17.

It should also be observed that FIG. 2 schematically illustrates onefeeding tube 8 along with a pair of cooperating metering rollers 12,13.The strand S is illustrated as passing through the metering rollers12,13 and through the feeding tube 8 toward the mold M for deposition onthe interior surface thereof. In like manner, it should be observed thatthe metering rollers 12, 13 could be used to feed strands S through thefeeding tube 8 for external winding about a mandrel or similar moldsurface, as well as in other types of wellknown filament depositionsystems.

The phototransducer 30 is connected to a photoamplifier 31 which iscapable of providing a square wave train of pulses. The amplitude of thesquare wave train of pulses will always be the same but the frequencywill vary in proportion to the speed of rotation of the mold M. Thephotoamplifier 31 is, in turn, connected to an integrating network 32which comprises a pair of resistors 33 and capacitors 34 all connectedin the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. The integrating network is capableof producing a linear voltage from the pulse train which is introducedinto the network '32. The linear voltage would be proportional to thefrequency of the pulse train introduced into the network 32.

The output of the integrating network is connected to a ratio selector35 which comprises a potentiometer 36 having a movable arm 37. A fourposition selector switch (now shown) could be connected in parallel withthe potentiometer for adjusting the ratio. One of the positions wouldprovide a 1:1 ratio for application of filament to the interior surfaceof the mold in the form of circumferential windings. A second positionwould effectively provide windings of the sinusoidal pattern on theinterior surface of the mold and would typically have a ratio of 1:3.Another setting would be capable of generating a ratio of 1:8, so that aswirl type of deposition pattern could be obtained. In like manner, thepotentiometer 36 would be capable of producing a voltage ratio in orderto provide the desired deposition pattern on the interior surface of themold.

The output of the ratio selector 35 is then introduced to a digital toanalog convertor 47 described hereinafter in more detail and then to amotor controller which includes a preamplifier 39. The motor controlleralso receives an output from the convertor 47 as illustrated in FIG. 2.Another input to the preamplifier 39 is connected to a tachometer 40 onthe motor 16 in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 2. Also connectedacross the preamplifier 39 in feedback relationship is a stabilizingnetwork 41 which provides a third input to the preamplifier 39. Thestabilizing network 41 is designed to prevent oscillation in the voltagesignal resulting from changes in the speed of the motor 22, which issensed by the phototransducer 30.

The output of the preamplifier 39 is connected to a time delay amplifieror so-called variable time delay" 42. This time delay 42 also receivesan input from a squaring amplifier 43 which is, in turn, connected to acycle A.C. power source. The squaring amplifier 43 will produce a squarewave pulse train for delivery to the time delay amplifier 42. The timedelay amplifier 42 will also generate a ramp wave signal internallytherein and which is compared to a linear voltage signal received fromthe preamplifier 39. If the level of the linear voltage signal from thepreamplifier 39 is greater than the peak of the ramp wave signalgenerated internally in the time delay amplifier 42, then no firingpulse will be generated. In the alternative, if the linear voltagereceived from the preamplifier 39 is less than the peak of the ramp wavepulse train generated in the time delay 42, a signal is transmitted to apulse generator 44, which is essentially an SCR driving circuit. The SCRdriving circuit will then fire at the demand of the time delay amplifier42.

It can be seen that the pulse generator 44 is, in turn, connected to themotor 16. Thus, if the speed of the motor 22 is reduced the change ofspeed will be detected by the phototransducer 30 and this change will beproduced in the form of a series of square wave pulses. The square wavepulses, as indicated previously, will be transformed into a linearvoltage through the integrating network 32. The ratio of the voltagewhich is transmitted to the motor controller is affected by the positionof the movable arm 37 and the ratio selector 35. This output voltage isthen caused to generate a series of firing pulses in the pulse generator44, in the manner as previously described, in order to operate the motor16 in proportion to the speed of the mold M. Accordingly, the meteringrollers 12,13 which are driven by the motor 16 will always beautomatically regulated to provide a rate of filament strand deliverypursuant to the requirements resulting from the speed of rotation of themold M.

The feedback controller also compensates for an effective reduction inthe size of the mold M resulting from layers of filament strandsdeposited therein. As indicated above, the effective diameter of themold M which receives the additional filament strands is reduced by theprevious deposition of filament strands therein. The thickness of thematerial deposited on the interior surface of the mold M is proportionalto the number of reciprocating movements made by the feeding tube 8.Thus, as the feeding tube 8 achieves one end position, it will actuate alimit switch 45 which is, in turn, connected to a digital counter 46,the latter, in turn, being connected to the digital-to-analogueconverter 47. The limit switch 45, the digital counter 46 and thedigital-to-analogue converter 47 are all conventional components andare, therefore, not described in any further detail herein.

The output of the digital-analogue converter (D-A converter) isconnected to the preamplifier 39 in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 2.Thus, it can be seen that the D-A converter effectively introducesgreater resistance into the output of the ratio selector 35 as theamount of filament in the mold M increases. This increase in theeffective resistance on the output of the ratio selector 35 reduces thelinear voltage which passes through the preamplifier 39 to the timedelay 42. Accordingly, it can be seen that in the same manner aspreviously described, the speed of the metering rollers 12,13 will beregulated in accordance with the amount of filament deposited in themold M.

The present invention also provides a modified form of filament feedingsystem B which is more fully illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The filamentfeeding system B is similar to the system A, except that the system Breciprocates in an axial direction with respect to the work load such asthe mold M. The filament feeding system B generally comprises a supportplate 50 which is reciprocatively shiftable in a longitudinal directionby means of a conventional reciprocative mechanism 51 powered by a A.C.motor 52, in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 3. It should be observedthat the reciprocative mechanism 51 is not illustrated nor described inany further detail herein since this mechanism is conventional. Forexample, a rotating shaft with a helical groove terminating in acircumferential groove and having a cam follower riding therein couldshift the plate 50.

Secured to the plate 50 is an upstanding support bracket 53and mountedon the support bracket 53 is a filament feeding mechanism 54 which issubstantially similar in all respects to the filament feeding mechanismA and includes a manifold 55. The manifold 55 is internally drilled toform horizontally extending vertically aligned fluid ducts 56 which areprovided with diametrally enlarged air chambers 57 at the right-hand endthereof. A back plate 58 is secured to the manifold in the manner asshown.

The back plate 58 is apertured in the area of each of the air chambers57 to accommodate filament guides 59 and each of which terminates in theprovision of a discharge aperture 60 internally in the air chambers 57.The strands of filament S are also introduced into the filament guides59 and carried through the discharge aperture 60 into the fluid ducts56. Finally, filament delivery tubes 61 are connected to the ducts 56and carry the strands S from the filament guides 59 to the area ofdemand, namely, the mold M. Air under pressure is supplied to thefilament feeding system B in the same manner as it was applied to thefilament feeding system A. Furthermore, particulate matter may beintroduced into the filament feeding system B in the same manner as itwas introduced in the filament feeding system A.

Metering rollers 62 are located adjacent to each of the filament guides59 for metering the amount of strand S to the filament guide 59. In likemanner, the rollers 62 receive the glass strands from a creel supportingplatform or other supply source (not shown) and feed the glass to theguides 59 in timed relationship to the demand for the strands S at themold M. Furthermore, the metering rollers 62 are operated by means of aconventional A.C. electric motor 63. Finally, the mold M is operated bymeans of a conventional A.C. electric motor 64 in the manner asschematically illustrated in FIG. 3. It can be seen that the motor 63operating the metering roller 62, the motor 52 operating thereciprocative mechanism 51, and the motor 64 operating the mold M areall operatively connected to a control mechanism C, the latter beingmore fully illustrated in FIG. 4.

The control mechanism C generally comprises a photocell 65 orphototransducer which is capable of sensing a series ofcircumferentially spaced digital markings 66 located on the exteriorsurface of the mold M. A photoamplifier 67 is connected to thetransducer 65 for amplifying the signal generated by the transducer 65.Furthermore, an integrating network 68 which is substantially identicalto the previously described integrating network 32 is connected to theamplifier 67.

A ratio select circuit 69, which is substantially identical to thepreviously ratio selector 35, is connected to the input of adigital-to-analogue converter 78 in a manner hereinafter described inmore detail. The output of the converter 78 is then connected to a motorcontroller having a preamplifier 70 with a stabilizing feedback circuit71 connected thereacross in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 4. It isalso possible to employ a four position ratio select switch (not shown)in the circuit 62 in the manner previously described. Connected to theoutput of the preamplifier 70 is a time delay amplifier 72 whichreceives a square wave input form a squaring amplifier 73, the latterbeing connected to a suitable source of A.C. power (not shown). Finally,the output of the time delay amplifier 72 is connected to a pulsegenerator 74 which is essentially an SCR driving circuit. The output ofthe pulse generator 74 is in turn connected to the motor 63 which drivesthe metering rollers 62 in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 4. Thisportion of the circuit operates in substantially the same manner as thefeedback controller illustrated in FIG. 2 operated.

It should also be observed that a tachometer 75 is connected to'themotor 63 and is, in turn, connected to an input in the preamplifier 70in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 4. This tachometer also enables thecompensation of any transients affecting the speed of the counter 76 isconnected to a digital-to-analogue converter 78 which is in turnconnected to a point intermediate the ratio select circuit 69 and themotor controller in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 4. Again, thisportion of the circuit compensates for the additional build-up offilament applied to the interior surface of the mold M. This circuit, inlike manner, operates in the same manner as the portion of the circuitillustrated in FIG. 2, which provided similar compensation.

Also connected to the output of the converter 78 is another motorcontroller which includes a preamplifier 79 having a stabilizingfeedback circuit 80 connected thereacross. The preamplifier 79 has anoutput connected to a time delay amplifier 81 which receives a squarewave signal from a squaring amplifier 82, the latter being connected toa suitable source of 60 cycle A.C. electrical current (not shown). Theoutput of the time delay amplifier 81 is then connected to a pulsegenerator 83 which is, in turn, connected to the motor 52 for drivingthe motor 52. As indicated previously, the motor 52 operates thereciprocating mechanism 51 in order to provide a reciprocative motion tothe feeding tubes 61. A tachometer 84 is connected to the motor 52 andalso has an input to the preamplifier 79 in order to adjust fortransients affecting the speed of the motor 52.

It can be seen that the control circuit C properly programs the rate ofthe feeding roller 62 to the speed of rotation of the mold M. In thismanner, the prior art problems of overfeed and underfeed have beenobviated. In addition, the control circuit C also properly programs therate of movement of the feeding tube 61 with respect to the speed ofrotation of the mold M and the speed of rotation of the delivery rollers62. Finally, the control circuit C also compensates for the additionalbuild-up of filament deposited on the interior surface of the mold M toaffect the speed of rotation of the motor 52 and hence the rate ofreciprocation of the feeding tube 61 as well as the speed of the roller62 and hence the rate of delivery of the strand S.

It can be seen that the present invention provides an absolute controlof the filament input in pretimed rotation to the rotational speed ofrotation of the mold in such manner that it is possible to achieve aproper filament geometry on the interior surface of the mold. In thismanner, it is possible to apply circumferential windings, helicalwindings, or spiral windings or any other type of geometric pattern asdesired. Furthermore, the uniqueness of this feeding system enables anapplication of filament strands to the interior surface of the mold inthe same degree of accuracy that can be achieved by conventionalfilament winding techniques on the exterior surface of the mold ormandrel. In addition, it is possible to achieve a proper deposition andcontrolled amounts of particulate matter or chopped fiber or flakesalong with the filament strands.

The present invention also provides a modified form of material feedingand application system P which is more fully illustrated in FIG. andgenerally comprises a conically shaped rotating mold 90. The mold 90 isdriven by any suitable mechanism such as the schematically illustratedbelt and motor drive 91. Whereas in the previous systems, the filamentstrands were applied to the major interior surface of a generallycylindrical mold, the filament feeding system F enables the depositionof strands on conically shaped surfaces or other irregular typesurfaces. It can be seen that the filament feeding system F includes alance 92, having a series of filament feeding tubes 93 carrying filamentstrands which are centrifugally deposited to the interior surface 94 ofthe mold 90. Normally, if the strands were applied to the diameterallyreduced end of the conically shaped mold 90, they would tend to migratetoward the diameterally enlarged end. However, a fixed retaining bar 95is inserted within the mold in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus,as the filament strands are applied to the interior surface of the mold90, they are effectively held in place by the retaining bar 95. Itshould be observed that a feedback control system of the type employedin FIGS. 2 and 4 could also be used with the filament feeding system F.Therefore, this type of control system is not described in any furtherdetail in connection with the filament feeding system F.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently describedand pointed out may be made and substituted for those herein shownwithout departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim and secureby letters patent is:

1. A device for for delivering a textile-like strand to a continuouslymoving demand station which requires delivery of said strand on acontinuous basis, said device comprising a first member a meansoperatively associated with said first member enabling a fluid stream tobe introduced therein, a second member guiding the strand into saidfirst member and said fluid stream, means operatively associated withsaid first member for causing an increase in the flow rate of the fluidstream in said first member, metering means for continuously deliveringthe strand to the second member at a controlled rate to thereby enableconveying of the strand in said fluid stream to the demand station,integrating means for operatively measuring the average continuousdemand of strand at the demand station, and control means operativelyconnected to said integrating means and said metering means foractuating the metering means to continuously supply said strand to saidsecond member at a rate consistent with the demand of said strand at thedemand station.

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that the means forcausing an increase in the flow rate of the fluid stream is arestriction forming a venturi throat.

3. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that the strands arefiberglass filaments.

4. The device of claim 3 further characterized in that meanscommunicates with said first member to deliver particulate matter intosaid fluid stream for conveyance thereby to the demand station.

5. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that the control meansprovided for controlling the rate of the metering means and of deliveryof the strand is a servo-operated feedback controller.

6. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that means operativelyforms part of the control means to adjust the metering means tocompensate for effective change in demand of the strand by virtue ofprevious strand delivery.

7. A device for delivery of textile-like strands to a demand point, saiddevice comprising a housing, means operatively connected to said housingand defining a first tubular member carrying a textile-like strand,means defining an air chamber in said housing, said first tubular memberextending into said air chamber and having a discharge aperture throughwhich said strand passes from said tubular member into said air chamber,means defining a venturi throat in said air chamber spaced forwardlyfrom said discharge aperture in the direction of movement of saidstrand, tubular duct means operatively communicating with said venturithroat to carry the strand delivered into said air chamber, a pluralityof metering rollers located on the entrant side of said tubular memberfor continuously metering the amount of strand introduced through saidtubular member, and means operatively connectable to said meteringrollers for actuating the metering rollers to continuously supply saidstrands at a rate consistent with the demand of the strand at the demandpoint.

8. The device of claim 7 further characterized in that means is providedfor shifting the housing in pretimed relationship to the rate ofactuation of the metering rollers.

9. A method for delivering a textile-like strand to a movable receivingmember on a continuous basis in response to demand thereby, said methodcomprising continuously metering a supply of the strand to an airchamber, introducing air into said chamber under pressure increasing theflow rate of the air in said chamber at a point proximate to thedelivery of the strand, continuously carrying said strand to saidmovable receiving member in said air stream, sensing the rate ofmovement of said movable receiving member, continually monitoring theamount of strand required by said movable receiving member pursuant tothe rate of movement thereof, and continually metering the strand at arate consistent with the demand of the strand by the movable receivingmember.

10. The method of claim 9 further characterized in that a control signalis generated resulting from the sensing of the movement of saidreceiving member, and the strand is metered in response to the controlsignal and such metering is controlled through a servo feedback means. I

11. The method of claim 9 further characterized in that the methodincludes automatically adjusting the the amount of strand metered tosaid receiving member to compensate for the amount of strand previouslydelivered to the receiving member.

12. In a system for controlling the deposition rate of a strand materialto a movable receiving member pursuant to demand requirements, feedingmeans for supplying the strand material to the receiving member, sensingmeans for measuring the effect of the demand for the strand material bythe receiving member and enabling generation of a control signal inresponse to the sensed demand, metering means for metering the strandmaterial to the feeding means at the measured demand, selector meansoperatively connected to said integrating means for adjusting the rationof strand material delivered to said receiving member in response to thestrand demand thereby, and means operatively connected to said meteringmeans and selector means to measure the rate of movement of saidmetering means and compare same to said integrated control signalaverage and generating an actuating signal based on such difference, andactuable means operatively connected to said last named means and saidmetering means operate the metering means in response to said actuatingsignal, to thereby permit feeding of said strand material to saidreceiving member at the demand created thereby.

13. The system of claim 12 further characterized in that the sensingmeans comprises a transducer sensing the demand for strand, and anamplifying system is connected to said transducer for amplifying thesignal, and the actuable means comprises a motor controller.

14. The system of claim 12 further characterized in that the feedingmeans is shiftable with respect to the movable receiving member, andmeans is connected to said selector means and said actuable means toshift the feeding means in proper time relationship to the demand forstrand by the receiving member.

15. The method of claim 9 further characterized in that said strand iscarried to the receiving mechanism in a feeding member, and that thefeeding member is moved toward and away from said receiving member intimed relationship to the movement of said feeding member during thedelivery of said strand to said receiving member.

16. An apparatus for delivering material strands to a movable receivingmember in response to demand by said receiving member, said apparatuscomprising a housing having at least one chamber therein, tubularfeeding means communicating with said chamber for delivering saidmaterial strand thereinto, means enabling the introduction of a fluidunder pressure into said chamber, means forming a venturi throat in saidchamber to. permit an increase in the rate of movement of said fluidpassing into and through said venturi throat, tubular duct means,communicating with said venturi throat and leading to said receivingmember for conveying the strand from said chamber in said fluid streamto said receiving member, metering means operatively associated withsaid tubular feeding means for continuously metering the amount ofstrand delivered to said feeding means, means operatively associatedwith said housing for moving said housing and said tubular duct means inresponse to movement of said movable receiving member, and control meansoperatively associated with said metering means and said motion means tocontrol the rate of delivery of said strand to said feeding means inresponse to movement of said movable receiving member.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized in that means isoperatively associated with said motive means to enable reciprocativemovement of said housing and tubular duct means with respect to saidmovable receiving member.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized in that said movablereceiving member is a rotatable die-forming member capable of receivingsaid strand during rotation thereof and that said metering means iscontrolled to deliver strand in an amount proportioned to the rate ofrotation of said die-forming member.

1. A device for for delivering a textile-like strand to a continuouslymoving demand station which requires delivery of said strand on acontinuous basis, said device comprising a first member a meansoperatively associated with said first member enabling a fluid stream tobe introduced therein, a second member guiding the strand into saidfirst member and said fluid stream, means operatively associated withsaid first member for causing an increase in the flow rate of the fluidstream in said first member, metering means for continuously deliveringthe strand to the second member at a controlled rate to thereby enableconveying of the strand in said fluid stream to the demand station,integrating means for operatively measuring the average continuousdemand of strand at the demand station, and control means operativelyconnected to said integrating means and said metering means foractuating the metering means to continuously supply said strand to saidsecond member at a rate consistent with the demand of said strand at thedemand station.
 1. A device for for delivering a textile-like strand toa continuously moving demand station which requires delivery of saidstrand on a continuous basis, said device comprising a first member ameans operatively associated with said first member enabling a fluidstream to be introduced therein, a second member guiding the strand intosaid first member and said fluid stream, means operatively associatedwith said first member for causing an increase in the flow rate of thefluid stream in said first member, metering means for continuouslydelivering the strand to the second member at a controlled rate tothereby enable conveying of the strand in said fluid stream to thedemand station, integrating means for operatively measuring the averagecontinuous demand of strand at the demand station, and control meansoperatively connected to said integrating means and said metering meansfor actuating the metering means to continuously supply said strand tosaid second member at a rate consistent with the demand of said strandat the demand station.
 2. The device of claim 1 further characterized inthat the means for causing an increase in the flow rate of the fluidstream is a restriction forming a venturi throat.
 3. The device of claim1 further characterized in that the strands are fiberglass filaments. 4.The device of claim 3 further characterized in that means communicateswith said first member to deliver particulate matter into said fluidstream for conveyance thereby to the demand station.
 5. The device ofclaim 1 further characterized in that the control means provided forcontrolling the rate of the metering means and of delivery of the strandis a servo-operated feedback controller.
 6. The device of claim 1further characterized in that means operatively forms part of thecontrol means to adjust the metering means to compensate for effectivechange in demand of the strand by virtue of previous strand delivery. 7.A device for delivery of textile-like strands to a deMand point, saiddevice comprising a housing, means operatively connected to said housingand defining a first tubular member carrying a textile-like strand,means defining an air chamber in said housing, said first tubular memberextending into said air chamber and having a discharge aperture throughwhich said strand passes from said tubular member into said air chamber,means defining a venturi throat in said air chamber spaced forwardlyfrom said discharge aperture in the direction of movement of saidstrand, tubular duct means operatively communicating with said venturithroat to carry the strand delivered into said air chamber, a pluralityof metering rollers located on the entrant side of said tubular memberfor continuously metering the amount of strand introduced through saidtubular member, and means operatively connectable to said meteringrollers for actuating the metering rollers to continuously supply saidstrands at a rate consistent with the demand of the strand at the demandpoint.
 8. The device of claim 7 further characterized in that means isprovided for shifting the housing in pretimed relationship to the rateof actuation of the metering rollers.
 9. A method for delivering atextile-like strand to a movable receiving member on a continuous basisin response to demand thereby, said method comprising continuouslymetering a supply of the strand to an air chamber, introducing air intosaid chamber under pressure increasing the flow rate of the air in saidchamber at a point proximate to the delivery of the strand, continuouslycarrying said strand to said movable receiving member in said airstream, sensing the rate of movement of said movable receiving member,continually monitoring the amount of strand required by said movablereceiving member pursuant to the rate of movement thereof, andcontinually metering the strand at a rate consistent with the demand ofthe strand by the movable receiving member.
 10. The method of claim 9further characterized in that a control signal is generated resultingfrom the sensing of the movement of said receiving member, and thestrand is metered in response to the control signal and such metering iscontrolled through a servo feedback means.
 11. The method of claim 9further characterized in that the method includes automaticallyadjusting the the amount of strand metered to said receiving member tocompensate for the amount of strand previously delivered to thereceiving member.
 12. In a system for controlling the deposition rate ofa strand material to a movable receiving member pursuant to demandrequirements, feeding means for supplying the strand material to thereceiving member, sensing means for measuring the effect of the demandfor the strand material by the receiving member and enabling generationof a control signal in response to the sensed demand, metering means formetering the strand material to the feeding means at the measureddemand, selector means operatively connected to said integrating meansfor adjusting the ration of strand material delivered to said receivingmember in response to the strand demand thereby, and means operativelyconnected to said metering means and selector means to measure the rateof movement of said metering means and compare same to said integratedcontrol signal average and generating an actuating signal based on suchdifference, and actuable means operatively connected to said last namedmeans and said metering means operate the metering means in response tosaid actuating signal, to thereby permit feeding of said strand materialto said receiving member at the demand created thereby.
 13. The systemof claim 12 further characterized in that the sensing means comprises atransducer sensing the demand for strand, and an amplifying system isconnected to said transducer for amplifying the signal, and the actuablemeans comprises a motor controller.
 14. The system of claim 12 furthercharacterized in that the feeding means is shiftable with respect to theMovable receiving member, and means is connected to said selector meansand said actuable means to shift the feeding means in proper timerelationship to the demand for strand by the receiving member.
 15. Themethod of claim 9 further characterized in that said strand is carriedto the receiving mechanism in a feeding member, and that the feedingmember is moved toward and away from said receiving member in timedrelationship to the movement of said feeding member during the deliveryof said strand to said receiving member.
 16. An apparatus for deliveringmaterial strands to a movable receiving member in response to demand bysaid receiving member, said apparatus comprising a housing having atleast one chamber therein, tubular feeding means communicating with saidchamber for delivering said material strand thereinto, means enablingthe introduction of a fluid under pressure into said chamber, meansforming a venturi throat in said chamber to permit an increase in therate of movement of said fluid passing into and through said venturithroat, tubular duct means communicating with said venturi throat andleading to said receiving member for conveying the strand from saidchamber in said fluid stream to said receiving member, metering meansoperatively associated with said tubular feeding means for continuouslymetering the amount of strand delivered to said feeding means, meansoperatively associated with said housing for moving said housing andsaid tubular duct means in response to movement of said movablereceiving member, and control means operatively associated with saidmetering means and said motion means to control the rate of delivery ofsaid strand to said feeding means in response to movement of saidmovable receiving member.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 furthercharacterized in that means is operatively associated with said motivemeans to enable reciprocative movement of said housing and tubular ductmeans with respect to said movable receiving member.